The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-10
MATRIMONY'S LEGAL PHASE
Human Nature as 1t Appears Before the
Marriage License Window.

How People of Various Kinds Conduct Them
selves in Procuring the Laws Sanction
to Their Marital Alliances
There are few better places to study human
nature than at the 'marriage-license window IN
the county clerks Office. Everybody may not
know that there is window devoted exclusively
to the matrim onially inclined, but there ls. IL
is an unpretentious arch, just largo enough 70
frame the faces of half-dozen persons-tne
usual number accompanying an appiicant-ano
is located in the front room OF the CLERK apart
ments, near the door. It has numerous visitors
daily, except on Friday and Sunday. Ihere Is
a widespread superstition that Friday is an I'M
lucky day, and few are willing to risk the mis-
fortunes it is expected to bring upon them.
When or Mhere the idea originated Is not
known. but such a superstition was ABROAD
long before the oldest inhabitant came into
existence, and the clerk that ever issued half
dozen licenses on Friday cannot be found Be-
tween 800 and 900 people. carrying out the oi-
vine injunction, come up to this window every
year. While the fall brings the most, june is
q favorite month.
The window is open to all who are matrimo-
nially inclined-the rich. the poor, the high ana
low all stand on equality before it.
The man whose wedding is to cost him 2,OUO
has TO go through the same process to secure his
license as the humble day-laborer who climbs the
rickety stairway and pays grasping justice OF
the peace 50 to tie him up for life. Besides the
clerk who issues the license one has better
chance to witness all phases of life at this center
ing point than the reporters of tho newspapers,
who daily record the names of all those licensed
nsl11 - Ill - IL
prospective husband, but she does some
times. When she is along, she Is
accompanied by a brother. if she has one. and, if
not, some particular friend. She seldom comes
to the window, but. with her friends. sits down
upon seat near by prepared for her kind. She
thinks the proceedings very funny until tho
clerk begins to ask the customary questions
about her. and then she becomes very nervous
She wonders if. after ALL there is something
wrong, and license can't be granted. She Is In
suspense. but it doesn't last long, for the rules
of license very lenient, and only very
small per cent OF the applicants are refused
She is perhaps never happier than when the
clerk hands over the ornamented license-sheet
and the coming husband planks down the 81 for
the five minutes work
Quite frequently parties who are not OF legal
age come In and want licenses, and because the
clerk will not issue the certificate some of them
get very indignant To marry under age the
consent OF the parents of the contracting par
ties must be obtained, else false affidavit that
they are both of proper age must be secured
The latter is often done where the ''old folks
are known to be averse to the union. 1t is said
that there are persons who are always ready to
make such afidavits and who. in times past,
have made not q little money out of it. Whether
this be true not, it is noticeable that whenever
a couple concludes to marry, no matter what the
distractions may be. they usually succeed in
procuring license. There is but one safe way
to head them of, and that is to give the clerk
written notice that they are ineligible. Such
notices are frequently received By the license
clerk, and they are kept pasted inside the WIN
dow. There is a variety of them. Some state
that the persons named are supposed to be con-
templating marriage and that they are not of
age; others that the expected applicants already
have wives husbands living. that
both of unsound mind and are not capable
of performing the duties devolying upon a hus-
band wife Often the clerk is asked to refuse
license to young people because of some per-
soual objection of the relatives side or the
other, and because he refuses TO observe the
quests makes bitter enemies.
The middie-aged man who comes after Ii
cense is the easiest customer to handle especial
ly if he has been through the mill" once. He
looks upon the preliminary step as
purely business one and conducts himself
accordingly. friend generally accompanies
him to make the necessary affidavit that he is
eligible and his wife OF age and without a hus-
band He has little to say. and the expression
on his face would indicate that he was buying
some everyday article of merchandise
There two sorts Of license blanks in stock
at the window. One is without characterization.
framed. The first is furnished without extra
cost; for the latter half dollar extra is
charged. The middle-aged man always takes
the free and unornamented one The young
men invariably select the framable QUE
1t is surprising the large number Of
men totterng into the grave that come to the
window In their actions they are more ridicu.
lous than the young and giddy.
Nowhere do the characteristics of the differ
emit nationallties crop out more plainly than be-
fore this window. An experienced clerk can tell
the nationality OF before the license
is half ready for delivery. The characteristics
of the American are. perhaps. most striking.
There l: that air OF independence and self-conf-
dence about him that is not seen in any Of the
other applicants And then he is always in q
hurry. He doesn't like to be bothered with
crowds, and if he is man of business he is hard
ly ever accompanied, except by personal friend.
This July weather he rushes into the room like
he was after physician for dying relative
and the first thing he does is to ask il this
is the place to get. license. although
the label "Marriage-license window" in
big letters stares him in the face
He asks in the next breath what steps neces-
take to make it ont. His hustle does not dis
turb the clerk. and ne goes slowly to making
out the papers as though he had a week in
which to do it. When he ready for the sigma
ture the bustling young American grabs the pen,
and drops the first dip of ink on the license
and spoilsit. With the second dash of the pen he
the instances the typical American spols three
sheets before he gets with his own name in
good shape in the proper place After he has
received the license he generally starts out with
out paying for it. leaves his change, cane,
umbrella. or something that causes him to rush
back at break-neck speed, and complain that
marrying Is a mighty expensive business"
The native-born Irishman is one of the most
interesting personages that stands before the
window. The wedding of an Irshman calls for
great deal of demonstration. and from the
time it is announced until the after-wake is
ended, he is the subject of much attention He
usually comes for the papers, as he terms
them, with not less than q half-dozen of
his jolliest friends. who lead the way
and form a hollow square around the applicant
in front of the window. He approaches the
clerk in a very shy manner. and is introduced
as the victim who has been warned against
the step he is about to take but can't be infiu-
enced to i've single and be happy The victim
smiles and remarks that he guesses he can take
care OF mate" and. with the help OF his COM